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"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."— Maya Angelou
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough"— Mae West
"I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."— Marilyn Monroe
"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity. "— Gilda Radner
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."— Albert Einstein
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What are the things that bring a piece of writing to vivid, touchable, breathable life? Details are one thing that puts us in the word picture of what is going on. It is the myraid of details that allow us to 'see' the room and its furnishings, the way the leaf curls just before the impending storm or the way the snow changes the world around us.
But what gives depth to the scene is the perspective of the character and how his or her emotions color the description. Emotion is what can change the gently falling flakes wiping out the grime of the city and transforming it to a winter fairyland to seeing the dirty, grey-brown slush piled up at the edge of the side walk hiding the water that will swell over the edge of the unwary one's shoes.
It is the combination of details and emotion working in concert that allows the reader to truly be 'in' the picture, to lose themselves within the scene. Details put in the objects; emotions give them depth and substance.
'Dictionary.com describes emotion as:
–noun
1. an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.
2. any of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc.
3. any strong agitation of the feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear, etc., and usually accompanied by certain physiological changes, as increased heartbeat or respiration, and often overt manifestation, as crying or shaking.
4. an instance of this.
5. something that causes such a reaction: the powerful emotion of a great symphony.
Emotions are what, in the traditional sense of the word, define a major difference between 'journalism' and creative writing. One presents 'just the facts, ma'am' and the other is imbued with all the facets of life, all the back-story, all the angst and joy of the moment.
I particularly liked the Gila Radner quote above. For me, as a writer, it expresses what I, too, have learned over the years of being daughter, wife, mom and what I try to bring to my writing.
It is, I think, the emotions surrounding the events in a life, in the wishes and desires of that person that are what makes them alive. For example, would I just love to weigh what ever I'd weigh to fit into a pair of size 6 jeans? Ohh yeah! Why? It would be because of the feelings and emotions associated with that event. When we see a person, our viewpoint is colored by our emotions. 'They are way too skinny.' 'She is slim and elegant.' I come across the phrase in reading concerning a 'well turned or trim ankle.' It always stops me in my tracks. Why? Because I have inherited my dad's piano legs rather than my mother's 'well turned ankle' and legs that went on forever. I could be a size 6 and I still would not be able to describe my ankle in that fashion. (been there, tried that--failed miserably! *grin*) Perception and emotion bringing details to life, balanced with just the right amount of spice.
So. Why this week's words on emotion? Because I recently (the morning after Thanksgiving) had the impact of how emotions color our lives and words brought into a sharper focus. Until this event, I had been plodding along. Life was fine, not perfect by any means, but fine. The roof was over my head (barely, but the mortgage got paid), I had enough to eat (usually), work was okay (not great, but okay); ie; typical, normal life as we know it.
Then in the space of four words, EVERYTHING changed. Nothing in the aforementioned day to day stuff I just mentioned has changed (really), but my perspective of life in general has just been colored? enhanced? Certainly changed. All because my boyfriend asked me to marry him! Our financial stuff is same old, same old. The exact same day to day issues we've been facing together are still there; they didn't go away. But my viewpoint seems to have morphed from 'we'll get through it' to 'we'll get through it' seen through a happier, more positive lens. Let's face it. I'm flying high and happy. I'm incredibly emotional. I burst into tears at the store when I realized this Christmas I could buy him a 'husband' card' rather than a 'boyfriend' one because we are getting married in two weeks! Silly? Yeah. But that's okay. I'm old enough to realize that life goes on and being as we've lived together for years and years nothing much will really change. But it will and for the foreseeable future, I know it will affect how I look at everything around me.
All of this serves to remind me that big events (marriages, births, deaths) have a huge impact on how life is viewed. Emotions propel us for better or worse (excuse the pun--couldn't resist) just as they propel our characters and as each of us react in varying ways to such events, so too should our characters!
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A girl has visions & is forced to see the one she loves in pain & experiences pain herself
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SHERRI GIBSON  writes in:This newsletter was excellent as always. I couldn't agree more that plenty of details should be given when writing a story. From characters to setting, strong definition is what draws a reader's attention.
I agree totally and I thank you for the compliment!
lindamv writes: Great newsletter Fyn. I love your characters - you really bring them to life. And you are so right: our characters live all the time - not just in those times we are witing about them. Well expressed.
Thanking you *envisions characters hopping about when the book is closed*
Zeke  adds: Sometimes in life the smallest detail about how we interact with another person can provide immortality, and we'll never know about it.
How very true and it is these moments we need to capture within the framework of our writing!
michellekeyes writes: Oh this is an EXCELLENT newsletter. It made me wish I could rush to the nearest Speedway for a job just so I could take in all the delightful details you've shared with us. Your eye for and understanding of the daily grind of life is admirable. Considering that I'm looking more closely at my lack of detail in my stories, this newsletter had uncanny timing. Great job!
Thank you. Glad my timing was good. It is amazing how many of our regular 'life moments' can be incorporated into writing and how they can add to the reality and immediateness of a story!
Oldwarrior compliments: Excellent Newsletter Keep up the Great work!
I'm so glad you are enjoying the newsletters! It means a great deal to me
maryelle writes:Love the general store feel. That's sort of what gas/marts are I guess. Well done!
*grinning* Yes, indeed they are the modern day version!
lkokko says:I know I have fallen in the trap of not giving my scenes or characters enough detail (not too much - have to leave something for the readers imagination). You made some good examples of where details can be obtained - in our everyday life, where we do not necessarily take the time to just observe.
Details are everywhere just waiting to be reworked into our characters and stories!
spidey   adds:Great newsletter! I work in a grocery store and I find myself doing the same thing. People-watching can be great for noticing the small details!
...and for tucking those observations away for future use! |
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For Authors: December 03, 2008 Issue [#2747]
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